Sultan pleco (L264)
Leporacanthicus joselimai
Also known as L264, Sultan Plec
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 8.7 in
- 22 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Middle Rio Tapajos near Itaituba in Para, Brazil.
Overview
A medium-large pleco for a tank of 250 liters or more with brisk current and caves. Feed a carnivore diet of frozen or live snails, bloodworms, mysis, prawn, and chopped mussel along with sinking carnivore pellets, not a vegetable staple. Territorial toward similar fish but generally civil with unlike tankmates when it has its own cave.
In the wild
Lives in fast-flowing rocky rapids and driftwood snags of the middle Tapajos. It is a carnivore, and its teeth mark it as an invertebrate feeder that hunts snails and small prey rather than grazing algae. Wants strong flow, high oxygen, and rock or wood caves.
Good to know
Described as Leporacanthicus joselimai, it wears a soft gray body finely peppered with small dark spots, subtler than its flashier relatives. Like other Leporacanthicus it has enlarged teeth suited to prying invertebrates loose. It is one of the more understated but sought-after plecos in the genus.
Did you know
Its clean gray body and pinhead spotting make it look almost plain next to other L-numbers, yet that understated look is exactly why collectors prize a well-grown sultan.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Sultan pleco (L264) is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Beardless barb
Cyclocheilichthys apogon
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Cascarudo
Callichthys callichthys
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Banded silver dollar
Metynnis fasciatus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Pike topminnow
Belonesox belizanus
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 44 gal (165 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Gallagher's catfish
Rhinodoras gallagheri
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Sultan pleco (L264) need?
A Sultan pleco (L264) needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Sultan pleco (L264) need?
A Sultan pleco (L264) is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Sultan pleco (L264) get?
An adult Sultan pleco (L264) reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).
Related species
9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Vampire pleco (L029)
Leporacanthicus galaxias
9.8 in (25 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
11 in (28 cm)106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Three beacon pleco
Leporacanthicus triactis
11 in (28 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
6.3 in (16 cm)79 gal (300 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Golden vampire pleco
Leporacanthicus heterodon
6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)81–86°F (27–30°C)Blue phantom pleco (L128)
Hemiancistrus sp. L128
9.8 in (25 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)55 gal (210 L)81–90°F (27–32°C)Gold nugget pleco
Baryancistrus xanthellus
9.8 in (25 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)53 gal (200 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Green phantom pleco (L200)
Hemiancistrus subviridis
7.1 in (18 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)